Airplane tow target release device



Aug. 14, 1945. A. E. BRICKMAN AIRPLANE TOW TARGET RELEASE DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1944 n -mE INVENTORI Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATE T orr icg AIRPLANE TOW TARGET RELEASE DEVICE I Alan E. Brickman, New Haven, Conn., assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 22, 1944, Serial No 519,385

11 Claims. (01. 273 -1054) This invention relates to airplane tow targets, and particularly, to an improved means or device for releasing targets towed by aircraft for use in gunnery practice.

It is now common practice to employed a release device on the end of a target tow cable for replacing the used target beingtowed with a new target. In order to replace the target being towed with a new target, the latter target which is folded and secured by a rip cord, is secured to a ring placed on the tow line and launched from the plane. The ring is threaded onto the tow cable and the forward motion of the plane draws the tow cable and release device through the ring until the ring strikes a projecting portion usually carried by the release device. The resultant jerk releases the rip cord and the target opens up due to the wind velocity and is in tow. After a predetermined amount of target shooting, a new target, in bundled form, is launched in the same manner. As the ring passes over the releasing device, it depresses usually a trigger arrangement which in turn withdraws the projecting portion to which the ring of the spent target is attached and the ring passes off the release device and the target releases it from tow and it falls to the earth for recovery and scoring.

Various types of release devices have been heretofore suggested and used. One of the most common types used consists of a longitudinally extending rather heavy cylindrical body member having a trigger and hook release mechanism. Such a release device has been found to be unsatisfactory for several reasons. place, the ring member of the replacement target oftentimes sheared the tow cable at a point im-- mediatel next to the heavy body member due to the speed at which the ring passes over the tow cable and the Weight of the release mechanism. Also, a heavy release device or assembly tends to whip about on the end of the tow cable and oftentimes, the ring of the replacement target passes over the trigger without releasing the spent target and, at other times, both the new targettogether with the spent target would pass completely over and off the release device with the result that there was a loss of a target and that no target was in tow. Thus, it will be seen that the use of such a release device not only resulted in damaging the tow cable but also resulted in loss of the target at times, and delay or incompletion of gunnery practice.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved tow In the first,

target'release devicewhereby all of the above mentioneddisadvantages are eliminated. It is anotherobject of thisinvention to provide an improved tow target release device which is relativelylight in its construction, and, substantially foolproof in its use so as to insure-the replacement of a spent target with a new target... It is a further object of this'invention to provide-an improved tow target release device which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, and,- at the same time, efficient and effective in its use. Various other objects and-advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

In the-accompanying drawingthere is shown, for the purpose of, illustration, an-embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. In thedrawing: i g Figure 1 is aside elevational View of the outer end of an airplane tow target cable in tow, showing' the improved release device of my-invention incorporated therewith together with a tow target connectedqthereto; 1 Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of my improvedrelease device showing the parts thereof in theirreleasable position;

Figure 3'is an enlarged side view of the outer end of my improved release device; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-'IV of Figure 3. r

' Referring more particularly to the drawing,

there is :shown in Figure 1, a target tow'cable 2'having the" inner end thereof attached to an aircraft; On the outer end of the tow cable, there is arranged a connecting member 3 having an eye'portion, 4 to which the improved release device 5v of the present invention is pivotally connected in'a manner hereinafter to be described. On the outer end of the release device 5, there is releasably connected thereto, a target lead cable 6 having a traveler ring 1 arranged orithe inner end thereof by which it is attached to the release"device', and on the outer end of the lead cable, there is disposed a target 8.

' The'improved release device 5 of the present invention, as more clearly shown in Figures 2,

3 and 4, comprises a resilient metallic member,

preferably made of round wire, which is bent uponitself so'as toprovide a longitudinally exnormally spaced from each other due to the resiliencyv thereof. On the outer side of the outer end of the free end IIJ, there is disposed an enlarged portion I3 which is preferably formed by bending the end of the free end into the form of a hook and inserting an irregular-shaped member or slug I 4 in the hook portion, as more clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The insert member I4 is preferably welded in position in the hook portion so as to be securely held therein and constructed so as to entirely fill the same. Intermediate the length of the free end I0, there is arranged an outwardly extending r cam portion I5. In other words, the free end I0 is preferably bent so as to form a cam portion on the outer side thereof intermediate the length of the same. I I g The outer end of the opposed free end I2 is bent inwardly and outwardly so as to provide an angular or, preferably an arcuate-shaped portion I6 adjacent the end thereof. On the extreme outer end of the free end I2 beyond the arcuateshaped portion I 6 there is arranged a longitudinally extending finger-like portion I! which is disposed beyond the enlarged portion I 3 of the free end I0.

There is attached to the free end I 2 at a point adjacent the arcuate-shaped portion I6 thereof, preferably aninwardly extending metallic U- shaped member I8 with the extreme ends of the free ends of the U-shaped members disposed to either side of the free end I2 and secured thereto preferably by a ball and peen connection as at I9. The U-shaped member I8 straddles the opposed free end I0 and is positioned between the cam portion I and the enlarged portion I3 carried thereby. By providing such a construction, it will be seen that the free end I0 is movable relative to the opposed free end I2 together with the U'-shaped member I8 carried thereby. The free end I2 preferably has a cam portion arranged therein at a point immediately' forwardly of the U-shaped member I8 for a purpose later to be described. The sides of both free ends I8 and I2 at a point opposite the U-shaped member I8 are preferably flattened as at 2| so as to provide an area of greater bearing surface for the U-shaped member I8.

The improved release device of my invention functions in the following manner. It will be assumed that a target isin tow and under such conditions, the tow cable, the release device and the tow target will assume the position, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. It willbe seen that the U-shaped portion 9 of the release device 5 is positioned in the eye- 4 of the connection 3 on the end of the tow line so as to be pivotally attached thereto. When the target'isinxtow, it will beseen that the traveler ring I' of the target is disposed on the outer end of the" release device so that one side thereof rests upon the outer or upper side of the U-shaped member I8 and abuts against the enlarged portion I3' of the free end In of the body member and the opposite side of the traveler ring abuts against the finger-like portion II of the free end I2. In other words, the enlarged portion I3 and the finger-like portion I! are disposed diametrically opposite each other within the traveler-ring 'I and rest against the inner periphery of the ring. It will be understood that in order to maintain: thetraveler ring on the end of the release device in such a manner, that the distance between the inner side of the enlarged portion I3 and the outer end of the finger-like portion I1 is greater than the inner diameter of the traveler ring 11.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, after a suflicient amount of gunnery practice has been had with a target in tow, and it is desired to replace this spent target with a new target, the traveler ring 1 of a new target in bundled form is threaded at the aircraft onto the tow cable 2, and the traveler ring 1 together with the new target 8 attached thereto passes back over the tow cable and over theconnection 3 onto the release device 5, as shown in the broken lines of Figure 2, due to the velocity of the aircraft and the wind. Upon reaching the release device 5,

the traveler ring I will continue in its sliding movement thereover and strike the cam portion I5 of the free end Ill thereby depressing the same and moving it toward the free end I2, as shown in the full lines of Figure 2. In order to obtain this depressing action, it will be understood that the distance normally between the outer side of the cam portion I5 of the free end In and the outer side of the, free end I2 is greater than the inner diameter of the traveler ring I. When the free end I0 is depressed or forced toward the opposed free end I2, it will be seen that the enlarged portion I3 carried thereby is moved inwardly or below the outer surface of the U- shaped member I8, asshown in Figure 2, thus permitting the traveler ring I of the spent target to pass off the end of the release device 5 and the spent target then falls to the earth. After the traveler ring I of the replacement or new target has passed over'the cam portion I5 of the free end II), this free end will move outwardly and away from the free end I2 due to the resiliency thereof and again assume its normal position against the inner side of the U-shaped member I8 with the enlarged portion I3 projecting therebeyond, as shown in the broken lines of Figures 2. The traveler ring I of the new target will continue to slide over the release device and pass over the U-shaped member I8 until the inner or upper side of the traveler ring I strikes the enlarged portion I3 of the free end II]. The opposite or lower side of the traveler ring I will continue to move up over the arcuate-shaped portion IIi of thefr'ee end I2 until the outer side thereof strikes the finger-like portion I! carried thereby during which time the target 8 will open up from its original bundled form to the expanded form as indicated at the extreme right at 8 in Figure 1 of the drawing. It will be seen that the cooperation of the enlarged portion I3 and the finger-like portion IT with the traveler ring! prevents any further movement of the same over the release device 5 and it is releasably held thereon until it is desired to replace this target with another new target. It is the purpose of the cam portion 28 on the free end I2 to direct the side of the traveler ring to the outer side of the 'U-shaped portion I8. It will be understood that the impact of the traveler ring, when it reaches its position on the end of the release device, is absorbedby the combination of the longitudinal'resiliency of the arm I0 and the cantilever resiliency of the finger-like portion II of the free end I2.

As a result of my invention, it will be'seen that there is provided a release device which willtend toneither rotate norwhip when in use due primarily to the greatly reduced weight of the body member. In other words, the tow cable, the release device and the target will always be in alignment with each other so as to provide 'a straight line tow, so that all the forces exerted on the release device are longitudinal and absorbed by the release device itself. In my improved release device, it will be seen that the release-of the spentor used target is positive due to the depres sion of the free member ID together with the enlarged portion 13 carried thereby, as caused by the traveler ring pressure on the cam s'urface'li thereof and the under drag on the lead cable, 6 of the new target, as caused by tow resistance.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose'of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for exchanging an aerial-target towed by an aircraft tow line for a replacement target with each target having a traveler ring arranged therewith, a target release device secured to the end of the tow line comprising a resilient metallic member bent upon itself so as to provide a longitudinally extending body member'of generally U-shape, the tow line being attached to the closed end of the U-shaped body member, the opposed arms'of said body member being normally spaced from each other, the traveler ring of each replacement target being adapted to slide over said body member 'lorigie tudinally thereof; means arranged on the ends of said opposed arms which cooperate with the traveler ring of a target for holding the same releasably thereon, intermediate portions of the two arms of the body member being so shaped that the traveler ring of a replacement target must force the ends of the arms of the body member together from their normal spaced relationship as such ring travels thereover carrying .a replacement target but allows separation of the ends of the arms after it has passed oversuch intermediate portions of the arms, whereby the target being towed is released and the replacement target is coupled to the tow line.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the resilient metallic member is made of w1re. i

3. In apparatus for exchanging an aerial target towed by an aircraft tow line for a replacement target with each target having a traveler ring arranged therewith, a target release device secured closed end of the U-shaped body member, the

opposed arms of said body member being normally spaced from each other, the traveler ring of each replacement target being adapted to slide over said body member longitudinally thereof, means arranged on the ends of the opposed arms which cooperate with the traveler ring of a target for holding the same releasably thereon, portions of said opposed arms intermediate the length thereof being so shaped that when the arms are in their normal spaced relation the distance between lines drawn parallel to the longitudinal axis of the U-shaped body member and tangent to the outer surfaces of the two arms at such intermediate portion is greater than the distance between two lines parallel to the axis of the body member and tangent to the inner arm contacting surfaces of the traveler ring in the position it assumes when sliding over the body portion of the U- shaped member carrying a replacement target, whereby travel of the traveler ring of a replacement'target over 'suchintermediate portion of the arms causes release of the used target and coupling of the replacement target to the tow line. I

t 4; In apparatusfor exchanging an aerial target towed by'an aircraft tow line fora replacement target with each-targethaving a traveler ring arranged therewith; a target release device secured to the end of the tow line comprisinga resilient metallic member bent upon itself was to provide a longitudinally extending body mem ber of generally U-shape, the tow linev being attached to the closed end of the U-shaped body membergvthe opposed arms of said body member being normally spaced from each other; the traveler ring of each replacement target being adapted to slide over said body member longitudinally traveler ring slips over such body freely when the arms are in their normal spaced position; at least one of the arms having such shape at a portion intermediate its length that the outer surface thereof diverges from the longitudinal axis of the U-shaped body and then converges toward the axis, in a direction away from the closed end of sliding overthe body portion when carrying a replacement target, whereby travel of'a traveler ring of a replacement target over the intermediate portions of the arm of the body releases the use'd't'arget and'effects coupling of the .re-

placement targetwith the tow line. 4 I 5.- In apparatus for exchanging anaeri'alt'ar- 'get towed by an aircraft tow line jfor a replacement target with each target having a traveler ring arranged therewith, a target release device secured to the end of the tow line comprising a resilient metallic member bent upon itself so as to provide a longitudinally extending body member of generally U-shape, the tow line being attached to the closed end of the U-shaped body member, the opposed arms of said body member being normally spaced from each other, the traveler ring of each replacement target being adapted to slide over said body member longitudinally thereof, a hook-like member extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the body member arranged on the end of one of the arms of the body member and an end on the other arm cooperating therewith to hold a traveler ring releasably thereon when the arms are in their normal spaced relationship, portions of the two arms intermediate their length being so shaped that the traveler ring of a replacement target must wherein the hook-like member on the end of one ofthe arms: consists of an enlarged portion arranged on the outer side of the end-of such arm, and thecooperating end on the other arm con sistsofi aportion of such arm bentinwardly and outwardly .and having a, longitudinally extending' finger-like portion arranged on the extreme outer end thereof beyond said hook-like member ontheend of the other arm, the traveler ring of a target held by such device fitting over the hooklike member on the first mentioned arm and the finger-like portion on the second mentioned arm. '7. The combination as defined in claim 1, including means for limiting the outward movement of one of said arms of the body member relative to the opposed arm of the body member,

said means being adapted to guide said arms in their movement relative to each other;

8.'The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the means arranged, on the end of one of the arms which cooperate with the traveler ring of. a target for holding the same releasably thereon consists of an outwardly extending hooklike member on the end of such arm to hold. the traveler ring of a target when the arms are in their normal spaced position.

9. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the arm opposite that whose intermediate'portiondivergesfrom the axis of the body and then converges toward the axis, has aportion which diverges from the axis at a point substantially opposed to the point on the first arm where the second arm begins to converge-whereby a traveler ring of a replacement target in traveling over the U-shaped body cooperates with the diverging portions of the two arms to move the two arms together.

10. Inv apparatus for exchanging an aerial target towed by an aircraft tow line for a replacement target with each target having a traveler ring arranged therewith, a target release device secured to the end of the tow line comprising a resilient metallic member bent upon itself so as to provide a longitudinally extending-body member of generally U-shape, the tow line being attached to the closed end of the U-shaped body member, the opposed arms of said body member being normally spaced from each other, the end of one arm being provided with an enlarged portion arranged on the outer side thereof, and the outer end of the other arm being bent inwardly and outwardly and having a longitudinally extending finger-lik portion arranged on the extreme outer end thereof beyond said enlarged portion on the end of the opposed arm, the traveler ring of each replacement target being adapted to slide over said body member longitudinally thereof, the arms being so spaced from each other from'the closed end of the U-shaped body toa point intermediate the length thereof that the traveler ring slips over the arms freely when they are in normal open position, at least one arm being so shaped in a portion intermediate its length that its outer surface diverges from the axis of the U-shaped body member and then converges toward the axis of the body, the distance between lines drawn parallel to the longitudinal axis of the U-shaped body member and tangent to the outer surfaces of the two arms at each intermediate portion being greater, when the arms are in their normal spaced relation, than the distance between two lines parallel to the axis of the body and tangent to the inner arm contacting surfaces of the traveler ring of a replacement target in the position it assumes when sliding over the body portion carrying a replace, ment target, and means attached to that arm of the body which has a finger-like portion at the end thereof close to and cooperating with the enlarged outwardly directed portion on the other arm to support the traveler ring of a target in use, travel of a traveler ring of a replacement target past the intermediate portions of the arms of the body causing the arm provided with the enlarged outwardly directed portion to be pressed toward the longitudinal axis of the body member and consequent retraction of the enlarged outwardly directed portion thereof with respect to the cooperating traveler ring supporting means, whereby the used target is released.

i 11. The combination as defined in claim 10, wherein the resilient metallic member is made of wire.

' ALAN E. BRICKMAN. 

